how do you teach them to go up the ladder?

[my3jsons]

Our young ladies and 3 roos (8-9 weeks old now, fully feathered) have been in their new home for a 2 weeks now. They have started spending more time outside in the yard, but it sure is hard when we have to chase them to put them back in. How do you teach them to go up the ladder into the coop? Only 3 (out of 22) have tried it.

 

[DaughterOfEve]

you may need to try a ramp for a month or so

 

[Oopoo]

can you attach a board under your ladder to make it more "ramp" like

 

[my3jsons]

oh, it is a ramp! When they come out they come to the first crossbar on the ramp and jump off the side. Most of them we have to force out of the coop. Only a few have attempted to get back in. They just kind of look up at the open doors, like how do I get up there.

 

[eenie114]

Just keep tryin', is all I can say.

 

[eponagirl]

Just curious why you force them out? Personally, I would open the doors and let them come out when they are comfortable. Also could try less of a steep angle of the ramp for now as they get used to everything...maybe prop the end of it up on a brick or something so it encourages them to walk out further onto the ramp and be able to hop on and off of it. then maybe they'll get used to it?? Just some ideas for ya ... ??

 

[eponagirl]

ps...GREAT COOP!!

 

[jsimplytx125]

That is an awesome coop. have instructions of build?

On ramp solution, you might sit a shallow box next to ramp for a while until they get it through their chicken heads to use ramp to get inside.

 

[my3jsons]

those are good ideas. today it took them about an hour but they all got out, without forcing. I will put something under the ramp so it's not so steep. My husband designed the coop and we built it together. Thought it was going to kill us! I am working on "my page" about it. check back for more pics and how we did it.